Comparative effects of two different aluminum nanoparticle formulations on the histological and physiological aspects of Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera: Drosophilidae) as a model

Recycling aluminum, which is widely utilized in industries such as packaging, poses a significant challenge in selecting the most efficient method that retains its properties while minimizing environmental impact. This study investigates the potential adverse effects of aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al2O3 NPs) synthesized from disposable aluminum foil waste using two different recycling methods: conventional grinding (CG) and ball milling (BM). This study employs Drosophila melanogaster as a well-established in vivo model organism to determine which recycling technique yields nanoparticles (NPs) that are less harm to non-targets. To assess this, relevant concentration of Al2O3 NPs formulations was added into the food media. Seven days post feeding, alterations of adult’s midgut were analyzed at physiological and ultrastructure levels. The results showed that Al2O3 NPs had significant effects on digestive enzymes, regardless of how they are synthesized. In contrast to chitinase and protease, the activities of digestive enzymes such as lipase, phospholipase A2, and carboxypeptidase were significantly higher in flies exposed to Al2O3 NPs synthesized by BM than those in fed on control food media or those supplemented with Al2O3 NPs synthesized by CG. Histological and ultrastructural analyses revealed that both formulations of Al2O3 NPs negatively impacted the midgut cells. However, the harmful effects were more pronounced in NPs synthesized by the BM method compared to those produced using the CG method. Where indistinct peritrophic membrane and disrupted microvilli, columnar and goblet cells with numerous vacuoles were recorded. Collectively, while the findings confirm the toxicity of Al2O3 NPs to Drosophila, the synthesis method used to process aluminum and convert it into nanoparticle form plays a significant role in determining its potential hazards and should be carefully considered.

Methods
This dataset originates from a study investigating the biological effects of aluminum oxide nanoparticles (Al₂O₃ NPs) synthesized from recycled aluminum foil waste. The synthesis involved dissolving cleaned and shredded aluminum foil in hydrochloric acid, followed by precipitation using sodium carbonate to form aluminum oxide. The resulting material was washed, dried, calcined at 800°C, and then ground using two methods—conventional grinding (CG) and ball milling (BM)—to obtain nanoscale particles. These formulations were characterized using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TEM.

Biological assays were conducted on Drosophila melanogaster (wild-type Canton S) to assess the physiological effects of CG and BM Al₂O₃ NPs. Flies were exposed to nanoparticle-supplemented food media, and multiple endpoints were evaluated: food intake using the capillary feeding (CAFE) assay, defecation rate via fecal pellet count, digestive enzyme activities in dissected midguts (seven enzymes assessed using colorimetric kits), and tissue-level effects using histological and ultrastructural analyses (light microscopy and TEM). All experimental conditions were replicated appropriately and analyzed using standard statistical tools (ANOVA).

This dataset includes quantitative and image-based measurements capturing ingestion behavior, gut enzyme activity, and cellular morphology under nanoparticle exposure.